The Archbishop referred to presence of refugees from Muslim countries in Greece and stressed that "Greeks, due to their cultural and religious tradition, cannot be racist and hate everyone who is different".

Besides, during his sermon yesterday morning at the church of St. Panteleimonas, Mr. Christodoulos pointed out the social character Christianity stressing that it teaches collectivity.

The police has taken very strict security measures in Ancient Olympia as well as throughout the course the flame will take, since the police authorities are being tested, after the issue of security was upgraded as the main point of focus of the Olympics . The police will move to a gradual interruption of circulation on the National highway, and approaching the ceremony area will be prohibited for those with no accreditation or invitations.

Actress Thalia Prokopiou will light the Olympic flame from the special reflector and will turn it over to 25-year-old Lefteris Fafalis, who is the first runner. According to the schedule, the flame should reach Kalavryta by 4:40pm where it will remain un til tomorrow morning. Its arrival at the Olympic Stadium has been programmed for tomorrow night at 9:15.

It will remain there on a special altar until December 3, when it will be turned into the representative of the Organizing Committee of the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.

In the early morning hours, another 13 illegal immigrants were arrested by Kos Coast Guard authorities.

The fair will open on November 30 and will last until December 2, housed in the French Institute, giving the chance to rectors and presidents, deans and vice-presidents, professors, teachers, and students to get to know and have access to the largest Fre nch Universities and Institutions for Higher Education.

The target of the Edufrance organization, founded in 1998 under the auspices of the French Ministries of Foreign affairs and Education, is to make French higher education more broadly known to foreign students.

Representing a network of 160 higher education foundations, the organization, after the interested party applies, chooses the desired preparation, and consequently helps with the applicants' accommodations in France.

The fair will open on Friday, 30th of this month, from 5pm until 8pm, and during the weekend, it will remain open from 10am until 8pm.

International Competition portion of the 42nd Festival.

The Award for the Best Film of the Year-Gold Alexander, was given to "Tirana year Zero", directed by Fatmir Kotsi (Albania, France, Belgium), with a prize of 36,700 euro. The Special Award of the Critic Committee-Silver Alexander, was given to Hatouna Me huheret directed by Dover Kosasvili (Israel, France). The prize was 22,000 euro.

The Best Director Award went to Hsiao Yian-chuan for "Ming dai ahui zhu" (Taiwan), while the Awards for Best Screenplay went to Dover Kosasvili for "Hatouna Mehuheret", by himself.

The Award for Best Actress was shared by Mayiou Ozaoua for her part in "Shoujyuo", directed by Eiji Okuda, as well as Ronit Eklabets for her part in "Hatouna Mehuheret", directed by Dover Kosasvili.

The Award for Best Actor was shared by Alexandrou Papadolfor his part in "Marfa si banii", directed by Kristi Pouiu, and Vouk Kostits for his performance in "Apsolutnih std", directed by Sridan Golubovits.

The Best Artistic Achievement Award was given to "Ming dai ahui zhu" directed by Hsiao Yian-chuan.

The critic committee of the International Competition portion was the British Director John Boorman, and members of the Committee were Polish drector Pavel Pavlikofski, Turkish director Nouri Bilge Jeilan, Greek stage designer Giannis Kokkos, Argentinian

critic and film theoritician Eduardo Adin and Greek writer-translator oti Triantafillou.

The Film Festival will end tonight at 8:30pm at the Thessaloniki "Megaron" Music Hall, with the State Quality Awards for the best Greek flms.

A total of 393 Bulgarian citizens voted in the Bulgarian Consulate in Thessaloniki yesterday and 249 of them voted for the outgoing president Stoyanov, while 141 backed the winner of the elections Socialist Party leader Giorgi Parvanov. Three ballot pape rs were blank or spoilt.

The election procedure in the Bulgarian Consulate was held in an exemplary manner and in excellent cooperation with the Greek authorities especially, on security issues.

The 393 individuals, who voted in the Bulgarian Consulate in Thessaloniki, are mainly workers who live in Greece temporarily or Bulgarian women who are married with Greeks.

In the first round of the elections had voted 200 people and the almost 100% increase in the number of voters is a proof of the increased significance of the presidential elections in Bulgaria.

Ms. Dante thanked Mr. Papandreou for his assistance to Albania's efforts toward European incorporation and expressed the belief that Greece will continue to be one of the main supporters of Albania for her country to be able to overcome this transitional

period, according to the Albanian newspaper "Zeri i Populit".

Mr. Papandreou assured Ms. Dante of the Greek side's willingness to offer assistance to all sectors of mutual interest and congratulated the Albanian government for managing to improve Albania's image internationally.

In his three-day visit to the British capital, Mr. Christodoulakis will have significant contacts with British government ministers, the London stock exchange management, the governor of the Bank of England and senior banking executives.

Referring to the predicted growth rate for Greece in 2002, he stated that Greece will be among the top countries in the EU adding, however, that the growth rate is still lower than it was expected to be in the beginning or the middle of the year.

In the discussion he had with President Kostis Stephanopoulos, he appeared cautious concerning the developments in the world economy because of the problem of terrorism and pointed out that Greece must be careful when planning its economic strategy.

As it is mentioned characteristically in the PRS report, published on the Athens newspaper "Imerisia", Greece is found much higher above the EU average in the past few years especially, in the sector of the "fresh" business capital used to fund state res earch and development investments.

Of the stocks trading today, 299 recorded gains and 39 had losses, while 26 remained unchanged.

The protesters expressed their opposition to the EU attempted gradual decrease and virtual abolition by 2006 of any subsidy for tobacco. They demanded the personal intervention by Prime Minister Kostas Simitis and the other political party leaders so tha t the subsidies policy will not change.

They accused the European Commission of hypocrisy on the subsidy issue as it seeks to abolish it, while at the same time the EU imports from third countries 70% of the tobacco consumed in the EU countries namely, 500.000 tons.

"Above all is the struggle", is the message of the Panmacedonian Organization, which underlines in its resolution that: "Now that developments in FYROM prove Greece was right for calling "those" north of the Greek borders extremists and "super"-nationali sts, for purposely mongering the historical and Greek name of Macedonia. Now that the civilized world understands that those people still mongering the holy name of Macedonia, are the remnants of propaganda of tyrannical and long left behind regimes. Now that it is proven that those risking the existence of the miniature state of Skopje, are those who are essentially risking peace in the Balkan region. Now, that world public opinion has realized that "Macedon and Hellene" are one and the same. Now is the time for the government of mother Greece, her people, government and all of the Greek parties one body, with one voice, to give the appropriate answer to those who agree with the false claims of Skopje, and to all those trying to undermine the national su bstance of Hellenism, that the things holy and sacred to the Greek nation are non-negotiable, just as the holy word Macedonia, which has expressed the identity and history of Macedonian Hellenism for 3000 years, is non-negotiable".

Mr. Xarhakos referred to the recent illegal excavations in the south Aegean island of Crete that brought to light ancient artifacts which later ended up in the collection of a Swiss antiquarian. Mr. Xarhakos asked the Commission in what way it plans to s top the thefts of cultural treasures and if the EU has revenues by collecting the VAT imposed on objects that come from illegal excavations and are being sold in auctions.

Commissioner Vitorino admitted the European Commission's weakness and inability to control the phenomenon of illegal excavations and trade of antiquities. On the VAT issue, Mr. Vitorino stated that the transactions concerning ancient or old objects are e qual to any other transaction and therefore, they are being taxed.

The above were stated by Cypriot government spokesman Michalis Papapetrou, pointing out that the Cypriot President will respond to Mr. Denktash's third letter within the day.

He said that the response will be positive given the fact that the meeting is placed within the framework of the UN secretary-general good services and will be held in the presence of the UN secretary-general representative.

Indicative of the interest expressed by the Azeri government in the development of relations with Greece is the fact that Mr. Magriotis is scheduled to meet with the whole of the country's political and state leadership, as Azerbaijan expects

from Greece the promotion of a closer cooperation with the European Union and international organizations with which it does not have any contacts.

The Greek exports to Azerbaijan correspond to 1/12 of the respective imports and therefore, the immediate improvement of the ratio is feasible.

Equally important is the cooperation at a level of cultural exchanges and within this framework Mr. Magriotis visited the Greek Language Center operating within the framework of the Slav University in Bacu and delivered books donated by the G reek state. The Greek Language Center is named after famous Greek author Nikos Kazantzakis and Azeri poetess E. Banine, a personal friend of Kazantzakis.

Mr. Tsochatzopoulos presented to the British businessmen a proposal-invitation to exchange business and investment experience, explore the business potential offered by Greece in dynamic sectors such as, high technology, energy, industry, trade, quality control, the environment as well as, cooperation in small and medium size joint ventures within the framework of the new economy.

He also referred to the reports drawn-up by international organizations such as, the International Monetary Fund, IMF, and the OECD, which confirm the Greek economy's development dynamism as according to a recent IMF report, the prospects for the Greek e conomy are the best of the past decades.

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